ing of a kiss. For she would
not have him nor her act otherwise than in perfect honorability as
befitted their great love. Because Dante did, indeed, cherish a great
love for her, that was greater than all temptings of the flesh, he let
it be as she wished. So this pair, that were almost as the angels in the
greatness of their love, pledged their troths with the simplicity of
children, and parted with the innocence of children, as gentle and as
chaste.

XVII

A STRANGE BETROTHAL

What happened now happened after I had left the festival, but I heard
all the facts later from eye-witnesses, so that I honestly think I can
make it as plain a tale as if I had seen the things myself. Messer
Maleotti, doing as he was told and rejoicing in the thought that he was
making mischief, came into the feasting-hall where Messer Folco sat
apart with certain old friends and kinsfolk of his, sober gentlefolk of
age and repute, that made merry in their grave way and laughed
cheerfully over the jests of yesteryear, and one of them was Master
Tommaso Severo, that was Madonna Beatrice's physician. Now Maleotti,
catching sight of a certain ancient servant of Messer Folco's, whom he
knew well to be an honest man and one much trusted by his master, made
for him and drew him a little apart, and whispered into his ear that
very amazing message with which Messer Simone had intrusted him.

This message, bluntly and baldly stated, came to this: that Maleotti,
taking his ease in the garden and wandering this way and that, came at
last by chance beneath the walls of that part of the palace where
Madonna Beatrice dwelt. There, on the loggia, very plain in the
moonlight, he saw Madonna Beatrice in discourse with a man. Though the
moonlight was bright and showed the face of Madonna Beatrice very
distinctly, the man stood at an angle, as it were, and he could make
nothing of him, face or figure. Such was the story which Maleotti,
primed thereto by Simone, had to tell. At first the man to whom he told
it seemed incredulous, as well he might be, albeit it chanced the tale
was true, and then he became doubtful--for, after all, youth is youth
and love love--and finally, upon Maleotti's insistence, he did indeed
consent to go toward his master, and, plucking him by the sleeve,
solicit the favor of a private word with him. Messer Folco, who was
always very affable in his bearing to those that served him, and who had
a special affection for this fello